The Archbishop was born on the island of [[Patmos]] as Theodore Kokkinakis. He graduated from the [[Theological School of Halki]] in 1934. In 1936 he came to the United States and undertook studies at the General Theological Seminary, Columbia University, and Northwestern University. Theodore was ordained to the [[priest|priesthood]] in 1940 (simultaneously taking the name Athenagoras) and assigned to the church of St. Andrew in Chicago. He served there until 1945, when he was assigned to the church of St. Demetrios in Astoria, New York. While there, he served as editor of the [[''Orthodox Observer'']], the archdiocesan magazine.

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The Archbishop was born on the island of [[Patmos]] as Theodore Kokkinakis. He graduated from the [[Theological School of Halki]] in 1934. In 1936 he came to the United States and undertook studies at the General Theological Seminary, Columbia University, and Northwestern University. Theodore was ordained to the [[priest|priesthood]] in 1940 (simultaneously taking the name Athenagoras) and assigned to the church of St. Andrew in Chicago. He served there until 1945, when he was assigned to the church of St. Demetrios in Astoria, New York. While there, he served as editor of the ''[[Orthodox Observer]]'', the archdiocesan magazine.

In 1950 Fr. Athenagoras was elected bishop of Eleia. His consecration took place on [[September 14]] at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York, celebrated by [[Michael (Konstantinides) of America|Archbishop Michael of North and South America]], [[Germanos (Polyzoides) of Hierapolis|Bishop Germanos of Nyssa]], [[Gerasimos (Elias) of Chicago|Bishop Gerasimos of Chicago]] and [[Orestes (Chornock) of Agathonikeia|Bishop Orestes]] of the Carpatho-Russian Diocese.

In 1950 Fr. Athenagoras was elected bishop of Eleia. His consecration took place on [[September 14]] at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York, celebrated by [[Michael (Konstantinides) of America|Archbishop Michael of North and South America]], [[Germanos (Polyzoides) of Hierapolis|Bishop Germanos of Nyssa]], [[Gerasimos (Elias) of Chicago|Bishop Gerasimos of Chicago]] and [[Orestes (Chornock) of Agathonikeia|Bishop Orestes]] of the Carpatho-Russian Diocese.

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==Sources==

==Sources==

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*[http://www.thyateira.org.uk/index_files/Kokkinakis.htm Biography of Archbishop Athenagoras] on the website of the Archdiocese of Thyateira

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* [http://www.thyateira.org.uk/index_files/Kokkinakis.htm Biography of Archbishop Athenagoras] on the website of the Archdiocese of Thyateira

Life

The Archbishop was born on the island of Patmos as Theodore Kokkinakis. He graduated from the Theological School of Halki in 1934. In 1936 he came to the United States and undertook studies at the General Theological Seminary, Columbia University, and Northwestern University. Theodore was ordained to the priesthood in 1940 (simultaneously taking the name Athenagoras) and assigned to the church of St. Andrew in Chicago. He served there until 1945, when he was assigned to the church of St. Demetrios in Astoria, New York. While there, he served as editor of the Orthodox Observer, the archdiocesan magazine.

Bishop Athenagoras was initially assigned to oversee the western portion of the United States. In 1954, he was transferred to Boston and the oversight of New England. At the same time he was appointed dean of Holy Cross Seminary. He resigned as dean in 1959. The next year, he was elevated to the degree of Metropolitan of Eleia and assigned to oversee parishes in Canada.

On December 10, 1963, Metropolitan Athenagoras was elected by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as Metropolitan of Thyateira and Great Britain, which at the time had oversight of all churches of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Western Europe. On February 24, 1968, the see was elevated to the rank of Archdiocese, and Metropolitan Athenagoras accordingly became Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain. At the same time, the establishment of new dioceses in Western Europe meant that the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain was redefined to encompass only the British Isles and Malta.

Archbishop Athenagoras was a leading figure in the ecumenical movement. As a bishop of the Archdiocese of North and South America, he participated in the North American Faith and Order Study Conference in Oberlin, Ohio and delivered a key address on behalf of the Orthodox delegates. He was president of the Fourth Pan-Orthodox Conference in Belgrade in 1967. He represented the Ecumenical Patriarchate at conferences organized under the auspices of the World Council of Churches.